Abstract
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students’ ability to participate in hands-on science activities has been greatly limited. As a result, the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC), in partnership with the Anne Arundel Public Library system launched a virtual, hands-on STEM program called Science to Go (STG). In addition to STEM programming for children, SERC utilized STG materials for professional development (PD) for teachers. This helped increase access to science education by providing educators with additional training, free materials, and relevant curricular activities. This issue of science accessibility historically has been, and still is, an issue for students across the United States, but especially for students from disadvantaged backgrounds (those from low-income households, students with disabilities, and English language learners).
This thesis provides information on best practices for virtual, hands-on STEM education and evaluates user feedback for existing Science to Go programs, in order to provide suggestions to improve future iterations of this offering. User feedback was collected through anonymous, online surveys and through virtual interviews. It was discovered that while STG was an accessible and successful program, the logistics of STG are unsustainable in the long-term, as currently designed. Thus, moving forward, STG should be re-structured as a hybrid (in-person- virtual) model for the public library and PD programs. Public library STG programs should collaborate with local citizen scientists and high school STEM programs for both enrichment purposes, and to alleviate logistical issues. PD programs should occur in-person at the host- organization’s site and offer the lecture component to be virtual for teachers who cannot/do not wish to attend in person. Additionally, PD workshops should align with school year timelines, to coincide with curriculums, which will enhance student learning and alleviate teacher burdens, as well as organization logistics. All of these adjustments will help Science to Go operate more efficiently and continue to increase the program’s accessibility.